A landmark new report from Surviving Economic Abuse reveals for the first time that economic abuse from an intimate partner played a role in over half of domestic abuse–related deaths, yet it is routinely overlooked by the agencies that could have intervened to save lives.  

The report, “Hidden Risks, Fatal Consequences: Economic Abuse in Domestic Homicide Reviews”, analysed 454 Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs), including in-depth thematic analysis of 15 reviews involving intimate partner economic abuse. It found that 231 reviews featured evidence that the victim experienced economic abuse from a current or ex-partner, covering domestic abuse-related deaths between 2012 and 2024. This is the equivalent of one economic abuse victim dying by homicide or suicide every 19 days. However, the true number of deaths is likely to be higher because some victims may have experienced economic abuse that was not identified or recorded in the review.  

DHRs are conducted in England and Wales following the death of someone aged 16 or over caused, or suspected to be caused, by violence, abuse, or neglect from a current or former partner, family member or member of the same household. This includes homicides, suicides and other deaths following domestic abuse. The aim is to identify lessons to prevent future deaths and improve local responses to domestic abuse. 

The report’s key findings include: 

• 231 of the 454 (51%) DHRs featured economic abuse by a current or ex-partner. 
• Of these reviews, fewer than half (47%) of DHR panels recognised the economic abuse. 
• 90% of these reviews involved at least one female victim, while 90% involved at least one male perpetrator. 
• Victims were significantly younger, with a mean age of 41 compared to an average age of 52 in cases that did not feature economic abuse from a current or ex-partner.  
• Of the 15 DHRs analysed in-depth, only four reviews included recommendations to address economic abuse.  
• Analysis further identified how agencies repeatedly missed opportunities to spot risks linked to economic abuse and, in some cases, even facilitated the perpetrator’s economic control. 

The report reveals how perpetrators used economic abuse to trap victims and make it difficult for them to escape. This included evidence of perpetrators’ monitoring victims’ phones, controlling their access to money, coercing them into debt, and, in one case, using legal processes to maintain control and initiate contact on the day they murdered the victim. Furthermore, a lack of access to resources and ongoing economic abuse were found to be key factors in the reviews where a victim died by suicide. One victim disclosed struggling to support her family before taking her own life after the relationship ended. 

With the government setting a target to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, Surviving Economic Abuse is calling for economic abuse to be recognised as a serious risk factor for homicide and suicide. The charity is urging all agencies – from local authorities and financial services to the Child Maintenance Service and the legal system – to prioritise tackling economic abuse and ensure survivors receive the support they need to prevent future deaths.

Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said: “This report should be a wake-up call. Economic abuse is not just a money problem – it is central to coercive control, and it kills. Every three weeks, a victim dies because of an abuser who used economic abuse as part of their control. But the true toll of economic abuse is likely to be much higher.

“These are not just statistics. Every year, we hear the names of women killed by men read out in parliament by Minister Jess Phillips through the work of the Counting Dead Women project. Some women are killed directly by abusers; others die by suicide, often linked to the perpetrators’ ongoing economic abuse and feeling there is no way out. 

“The evidence is clear: economic abuse is a serious risk factor for homicide and suicide. We cannot wait for another woman’s life to be lost. With the Government committed to halving violence against women and girls within a decade, all agencies must act urgently to identify economic abuse early, effectively support victims, and close the gaps that allow perpetrators to exploit their systems. Only through coordinated and consistent action can we protect survivors and prevent further lives from being stolen.” 

Frank Mullane, CEO of Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA), said: “Surviving Economic Abuse’s important and striking new report unveils significant gaps in professionals’ knowledge of economic abuse. More than twenty years ago, my own sister experienced this form of abuse, but we did not have the language to name it, nor a shared understanding of its impact. 

“As someone bereaved by double domestic murder, and as a former assessor of Domestic Homicide Reviews, I have seen how easily economic abuse can be missed – and how agencies can, inadvertently, allow it to continue. Ignorance allows abuse to flourish, and I hope professionals will use the recommendations to ensure increased recognition of economic abuse and better practice. The call for Home Office guidance so that non-traditional stakeholders, including financial institutions, can engage with Domestic Homicide Reviews, is particularly crucial.  

“I wonder what my late sister and nephew and other victims of fatal domestic abuse would think of this report. My hope is that it marks a turning point, that professionals recognise the huge and ruinous impact of economic abuse and take action to protect survivors and save lives.” 

ENDS 

For further information or to arrange an interview with a SEA spokesperson, please contact the Surviving Economic Abuse press office on: [email protected] / 07786 073249